Harvin trade from Seahawks to Jets may be key in two legacies

Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin had just 22 catches for 133 yards and no touchdowns before being traded to the Jets.

Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin had just 22 catches for 133 yards and no touchdowns before being traded to the Jets. (Steven Bisig, USA Today Sports)

Jerry BeachOf The Sports Xchange

What will legacy of Harvin trade to Jets be?

New York Jets general manager John Idzik insisted this week that last week's acquisition of wide receiver Percy Harvin wasn't a reaction to the increasing criticism against questionable personnel moves he made in 22 months with the team.

"Pure and simple, this movie is like any other move," Idzik said during a rare press conference at the Jets' training complex in Florham Park, N.J. "It's a move to improve the Jets."

Whether he intended to or not, Idzik also improved his own image by making the splashy trade. Idzik has been thrifty and conservative throughout his tenure, during which he has hoarded draft picks and signed only one free agent — wide receiver Eric Decker — to a deal that guarantees him at least $10 million and lasts for longer than three years.

The Jets began this season with more than $21 million in cap space, a surplus for which Idzik was mocked when the Jets' threadbare secondary fell apart and quarterback Geno Smith had no game-breaking weaponry to throw to during a 1-6 start that has the Jets in contention for the No. 1 pick next May instead of a playoff berth.

But Idzik dipped into what owner Woody Johnson would call a "rainy day fund" by acquiring Harvin, who will cost the Jets $6.48 million the rest of the season as well as a conditional sixth-round pick. Trading a late-round pick might not sound like much, except this is Idzik, who didn't deal any of the Jets' 12 picks in May's draft.

"If there is a chance for us to improve our team, no matter what time of year it is, whether it be early to mid October or early to mid April, we are going to do it," Idzik said. "When this chance presented itself, we felt like we wanted to take advantage of it. Percy can come in here and help our squad."

Of that there seems little doubt. Harvin has 30 all-purpose touchdowns — 20 receiving and five apiece rushing and returning — in just 60 NFL games. He will immediately become the Jets' kick returner, solidifying a spot that has been a revolving door since Joe McKnight was released before the 2013 season, and should also be used in a variety of ways on offense as the Jets try to bring some life to an anemic unit.

The Seahawks dumped Harvin just 20 months after acquiring him from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for three draft picks and immediately signing him to a six-year, $67-million contract.

Stories of Harvin's disruptiveness in Seattle began sprouting up immediately after the trade was announced. He fought ex-teammate Golden Tate and left Tate with a black eye in the week leading up to the Super Bowl in February. He also got into an altercation this summer with fellow wide receiver Doug Baldwin.

"The coaching staff, the management, on to the owner, they're not worried about [his past]," Harvin said. "I even tried to explain a couple of things. They told me to be quiet and not to worry about it. It's been all smiles here."

Even if Harvin manages to stay out of trouble in the locker room, there's no guarantee he'll stay on the field. He has played all 16 games in just one of his first five NFL seasons and missed all but one regular-season game last year because of hip surgery. He came back for the playoffs and returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the Seahawks' 43-8 rout of the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.

Harvin played in each of the Seahawks' first five games this year but had just 22 catches for 133 yards and no touchdowns. He also rushed 11 times for 92 yards and a touchdown while averaging 23.6 yards per return on 12 kickoffs — more than 12 yards less than his league-leading average in 2012.

Given all the questions surrounding Harvin, his acquisition amounts to a nine-game audition for all involved. If he fits in well, the Jets can either retain him or renegotiate his contract, which calls for him to be paid $10.5 million next year. And if not, there is no guaranteed money left on his deal, so the Jets can cut him without penalty.

KEYS TO THE GAME: Buffalo bounds into New Jersey with a backfield consisting of players who might have needed nametags to be recognized by most of the Bills' offense a month ago. With Fred Jackson (groin) and C.J. Spiller (collarbone) out, Anthony Dixon is likely to start and share the load with the more explosive Bryce Brown. QB Kyle Orton was sacked six times last week, a fact that has Jets coach Rex Ryan licking his chops to unleash a blitz-heavy attack. To calm the wobbly offensive line and protect himself, Orton is unlikely to launch many deep throws and lean on his backup running back tandem to move the chains. Orton is third in the NFL with a 68.5 completion percentage because he works within his comfort zone — passes of 7-15 yards.

The Bills are having no issue getting the quarterback, but must gear up to corral RB Chris Ivory, who found his legs against New England with a 107-yard game. The Vikings found inside running lanes to exploit last week but Buffalo is fourth in the NFL against the run at 80 yards per game. If they hem in the running game, QB Geno Smith will be tested. The Bills lead the NFL in sacks with 24, and if they can generate pressure against a veteran Jets offensive line, Smith shows questionable decision-making and has nine turnovers while taking 15 sacks in seven games.